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Argentine Player arrested in Brazil after racist comments in the game.

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- An Argentine soccer player was detained after a Copa Libertadores match in Brazil on Wednesday because of alleged racist insults.

Quilmes defender Leandro Desabato was escorted off the field by police and later arrested after allegedly insulting Sao Paulo striker Grafite with racist remarks in Sao Paulo's 3-1 victory over Quilmes in Group 3 of the South American club competition.

Grafite and Desabato clashed in the 44th minute at Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo.

Desabato was expected to be charged with racist insults, and could face from one to three years in prison if convicted, Goncalves said.

Goncalves said he ordered the arrest because the insults were caught by television cameras and because Grafite made a formal complaint against the Argentine player during halftime.

Desabato was escorted into the locker room after the match, and then was taken to a police department for interrogation. Goncalves said Desabato was expected to spend the night in jail.

Grafite ended up pushing Desabato during the altercation and was ejected by Uruguayan referee Martin Vazquez. Quilmes midfielder Carlos Arano was sent off because he also got involved in the altercation.

Grafite previously said that he was subjected to racism during Sao Paulo's first encounter with Quilmes in Argentina.

"There's no need for all this chaos," said Quilmes coach Gustavo Alfaro who confirmed the arrest. "A football match should start and finish on the pitch.

"This has all been handled the wrong way. It was an unnecessary spectacle -- (for the police) to come on to the field in front of 50,000 or 60,000 people when the player's pulse-rate is still high, he's just lost a game .

"There should be a different way of dealing with this . Nobody has benefitted from this."

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I watched the game, and it was very sad of what happened with Grafite, i hope this can show the world that in latin america or any part of the world people will not tolerate racism anymore!!!!!!!!!!

Well maybe big brother censorship is just what is needed especially in a country that has had a racist past. Many are not aware of how much devastation racism can cause a country. This sort of divisiveness and hatred can tear a country apart. Racism leads to unrest and terror, any country worth its salt should make its expression illegal and tantamount to criminal prosecution.

Well maybe big brother censorship is just what is needed especially in a country that has had a racist past. Many are not aware of how much devastation racism can cause a country. This sort of divisiveness and hatred can tear a country apart. Racism leads to unrest and terror, any country worth its salt should make its expression illegal and tantamount to criminal prosecution.

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yeha but eatonj has a point, where do you draw the line, if i say your a "white cracker" should I be arrested for that, who determines what is racist and what is not? How do you define racisim. Is it only against black people? Spanish? Indian? Im not sure how a free society can have laws against speech... in any form... Should rappers be thrown in jail for racisit lyrics?

Well maybe big brother censorship is just what is needed especially in a country that has had a racist past. Many are not aware of how much devastation racism can cause a country. This sort of divisiveness and hatred can tear a country apart. Racism leads to unrest and terror, any country worth its salt should make its expression illegal and tantamount to criminal prosecution.

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Oh sure, racism can be quite horrific... my point is that someone is being arrested for essentially giving their opinion (I guess that's what happened)... and although he probably said something offensive, I don't think he should be arrested for being offensive (as csaunders said).

I mean if he's trying to provoke a fight, or making threats, just arrest him for that.

He (Desabato) called Grafite of 'monkey', 'nigger' and told him to put a banana in a body part that i cannot say to you now...
Words of the president of the Black commission and anti-discrimination causes in the brazilian law.